Rare white tiger cubs born in Japan

Updated 11.21 Wed Jun 25 2008

Keywords: extinct, Japanese zoo, Japan, Zoo, tiger cubs, white tiger cub triplets, white tiger, rare

Three rare white tiger cubs have been put on display at the Shirotori Zoo in Higashikagawa, western Japan.

They are only about a month old and haven't been named yet. The triplets - two females and a male are the second litter to be born at the zoo.

White tigers are rare in general and pratically extinct in the wild

The cubs have already proved a hit. One schoolboy said: "It was soft and cute."

A zoo attendant in charge of the white tigers said: "There is nothing more satistying to have an animal that you have been taking care of give birth to babies"

White tigers are rare in general and pratically extinct in the wild.

The triplets are currently living in separate cages so that their fur can return to their natural pure white state, at present there is some brown colour in their fur due to licking.